Famous ‘Mulpani Cricket’ is beginning its second innings. Once presented as an ambitious cricket academy, Mulpani will soon become a cricket ground.
Lack of financial resources has hampered the plan. The plain created out of hillocks was already being used for cattle grazing and driving practice. There were even encroachments in the land provided to Cricket Association of Nepal by National Sports Council.
Bandula Warnapura visits Mulpani. Photo: Dipesh Shrestha/myrepublica.com
Bandula Warnapura, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) development manager, told this author pointing to people learning motorcycle, “at least people are learning something here.” He too was enthusiastic about the ground.
Warnapura believes having two standard grounds in Kathmandu will help Nepal get more international events and that it will bring economic benefits to the country. Nepal has missed out opportunities to organize international events as TU Cricket Ground in Kiritipur is the only standard cricket field in Kathmandu.
ACC has already granted CAN US$ 100,000 for construction of the ground. The foundation stone was laid in 2007 when the ACC Development Committee met in Kathmandu. At the ceremony, ACC chief executive Syed Ashraful Haq and the then development manager Sultan Rana had promised of more financial support once the works began.
Warnapura too repeated same words. “ACC money should be used transparently,” he said. “Once the construction starts, ACC will declare the support amount.” As the construction was delayed, ACC shun away from giving any event for 2009. The ACC U-17 Elite Cup was postponed event that was originally scheduled for 2008.
Nepal Government recently released Rs. 10,000,000 for infrastructure development and CAN is using that money for Mulpani. Nearly 360 ropanis of land is allocated for the ground.
“The construction starts as soon as tender is opened,” CAN president Binaya Raj Pandey said. “We will construct ground on the first phase and then a small pavilion and a changing room.”
Three A class construction companies have applied for the construction works.